obeisance

noun

Definition of obeisancenext
as in homage
a show of respect or acknowledgement of the authority or importance of another They made obeisance before the king and queen. She earned herself some political enemies when she failed to make the proper obeisance to those in power.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obeisance But as wrong-headed as the Court’s obeisance to the executive branch has been (see, for example, its 2024 ruling on Presidential immunity), that deference has its limits. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026 After a decade of seemingly supine obeisance, there is no obvious reason why the military leadership would suddenly rouse itself to oppose Xi. — Jonathan A. Czin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2025 But Zuckerberg isn’t the only one paying abject obeisance to the president. — Max Taves, Mercury News, 11 July 2025 In the first case, Obama was accused of showing obeisance to a foreign ruler and Islam. — Brendan Cole shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for obeisance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obeisance
  1. homage
  2. respect
  3. salute
  4. nod
  5. bow
  6. reverence
  7. submissiveness
Noun
  • Clad in pink tiles, the second bathroom is an homage to the kitchen at Barragán’s Casa Pedregal.
    — Sean Santiago, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Prince William and Prince George both wore blue ties, not only a potential nod to Eton College’s school color but also a potential homage to Princess Diana’s blue coat from the same occasion more than 30 years ago.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of homage
Noun
  • In the Test series itself, South Africa have also gone out of their way to show the haka respect, despite their head coach Rassie Erasmus often seeking any chance to gain an edge on the opposition.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Anyone who wants to volunteer is welcome to come out and all are invited to stop by the site and pay their respects.
    — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of respect
Noun
  • In an iconic photo, the two raise their right arms together in the Black Power salute.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Coast to Coast 💛 Zdeno Chára, now an adviser to the Boston Bruins, returned to his native Slovakia to play in an exhibition billed as a salute to his 24-year NHL career.
    — James Mirtle, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of salute
Noun
  • But eight other teams received at least one nod, and bear in mind that last year’s picks favored the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs — while not a single staffer pegged the eventual champion Seahawks.
    — The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The title track, a celebration of femininity and a nod to ’90s shoegaze and alt-dance music, touts a lovely video with Nicole Kidman.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of nod
Noun
  • The 20-year-old will not be able to make his Champions League bow against Manchester City on Tuesday, ruled out with concussion.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The Uprising posits that the efforts of England’s lower classes helped inspire and amplify later tales of the hooded, bow-wielding outlaw seeking justice.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of bow
Noun
  • For most of Saturday afternoon, Boise State treated one of college football’s most daunting stadiums with a suspicious lack of reverence.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • He’s flanked by Claymore and Fuller as John and Major Ridge, who both infuse a deep reverence for their characters in both of their performances.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of reverence
Noun
  • Attraction is a function of parentage and looks and submissiveness.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
  • But for Coles, his indoctrination to law enforcement has been a different level of submissiveness.
    — Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Definition of submissiveness

Browse Nearby Words

obedient
obeisance
obeisant
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Cite this Entry

“Obeisance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obeisance. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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